Chicago police are advising residents to stay alert following a string of violent robberies targeting inebriated individuals, particularly in the northern areas of the city.
Reports indicate that at least four incidents took place between June 16 and July 6, where groups, typically consisting of one to three African American men, approached victims, stealing from them in the process.
Authorities noted that the assailants often befriended victims who appeared intoxicated before committing the thefts.
The robberies primarily occurred in the early hours after bars and restaurants had closed.
Tori Rejuzema, a victim of one such attack, recounted her experience to a local outlet, describing how she was tackled to the ground by four masked individuals while en route to a Pilates class at 5:30 AM.
She mentioned that one of the men attempted to access her phone during the incident.
Another victim, Legemma, claimed he had a gun pointed at him and ended up spraining his neck from the force of being thrown down.
“He slammed me to the ground, and I realized later that I’d hurt my neck,” Ledzema recounted. “They had a gun to my head and demanded my password while making sure I didn’t escape.”
Police managed to track the getaway vehicle and collected fingerprints from the scene, although no arrests have been made yet.
Former FBI Special Agent Jonathan Gilliam shared insights, indicating that the suspects likely aimed solely for the victims’ phones.
“At the end of the day, it all comes down to a cell phone. We conduct a lot of our financial activities through our devices,” he explained. “Particularly targeting women, especially those headed to fitness classes, they look for ways to access apps like Cash App to steal money.”
Gilliam further noted that if a suspect can get close enough, they might resort to physical intimidation to obtain passcodes or other sensitive information.
